Jun 26, 2006

Paper presented at Harvard's Islam in the West Conference. Introduction only. Full reference information for citation purposes will be supplied on request, normal copyright reserved for this posting.

Introduction

President
Bush’s comment about the “internets” was derided for turning a singular,
indivisible entity into a plural. While technically incorrect, the term does
highlight an interesting point: While there is only one internet, the variety
of reactions to the internet – because of its association with the world
wide web – are manifold. Is the internet a space for free sharing of
information and easy access to commercial goods or is it a place of viruses and
worms, with criminals everywhere? The answer is both. While the extremes of the
internet use are the ones that are most talked about, the truth is that the
internet – here used synonymously with the world wide web – is a complex
creation that is full of minor positives and negatives; it is comprised of
small presences that contribute to contemporary culture.